SIDELINES: BACK IN BUSINESS

SIDELINES: BACK IN BUSINESS; No. 32 Receives New Life on 76ers

By Gerald Eskenazi

Published: November 18, 1991

When Philadelphia's CHARLES BARKLEY wanted to honor MAGIC JOHNSON by wearing his number, the 76ers took BILLY CUNNINGHAM's No. 32 out of retirement. That still left the 76ers with four retired numbers: 6, JULIUS ERVING ; 13, WILT CHAMBERLAIN ;, 15, HAL GREER, and 24, BOBBY JONES.

Chamberlain is one of two players whose numbers have been retired by two teams. He enjoys that honor on the Lakers as well. OSCAR ROBERTSON is the other, but under different numbers.

The Big O wore 14 when he began his career with the Cincinnati Royals, who subsequently moved to Kansas City, Omaha, and, ultimately, Sacramento, where his number is retired. He wound up his career wearing No. 1 at Milwaukee, where that number was frozen.

But every team in the National Basketball Association has a long way to go to match the Celtics. No fewer than 13 Boston numbers, for 14 players, have been retired, not including honorary numbers to the founder, WALTER BROWN (1), and longtime coach, RED AUERBACH (2).

JIM LOSCUTOFF turned down a request to retire his number, 18, because he wanted to see others wear it. JOHN THOMPSON, BAILEY HOWELL and DAVE COWENS did so, then No. 18 was retired for Cowens. So the Celtics hung Loscutoff's jersey, carrying the name Loscy.

Fans of a certain age might remember these notable Celtics and their numbers: